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Topic: Traveling to the Mid-Atlantic Region (Read 8616 times)

On the coast of Georgia very near the border with Florida is a Turtle sanctuary on Jekyll Island. I am a sucker for sea turtles. They have the hospital open for self tours, and you can see the lab notes on each one.

It is a very short stop. One of my favorite places when we travel the coast.

For Georgia, you may want to check out Stone Mountain. Some call it the Rushmore of the East. I can't remember how far from Atlanta it is however.

Stone Mountain is cool, but technically it's a memorial to the leaders of a nation that went to war with the USA. Some people are not bothered by this but others are, so just FYI. It's also something that you will need a car to drive out to visit (but it's not too far), but it sounds like you only plan to park your car when you have access to things like the Metro. The hike to the top is a little strenous but not bad, and you can do it at your own pace rather than waiting in line for the cable car to the top. The views at the top are great.

My DH and DS will also be at the Jamboree but I'll be at home enjoying peace and quiet

I am picking them up, which involves driving on the property on the last day! I will enjoy peace and quiet during the one week DS is away and then the second week when they are both there. Can you send me a PM of which contingent they are with?

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ďAll that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost."-J.R.R Tolkien

Our hotel in Alexandria has a shuttle that connects to the Metro. I imagine the car will remain parked most of the time.

I desperately need restaurant recommendations, as I would prefer to avoid chain restaurants as much as possible. We would like to have one splurge meal, and the remainder under $20 per person. Breakfast is included with our hotel.

Thank you to all the posters!

All I can recommend and I'm not quite sure where it is, for yummy pizza, the Mellow Mushroom. its in the Adams Morgan section - 2436 18th St NW Washington, DC 20009 but i coudln't tell you where that is in relation to anything else.

They have funky pizzas; and other menu items and its not too pricy. you should be able to stay under your budget here.

When you are exploring the Mall museums, have lunch at the American Indian museum's cafeteria. Based on native American foods, it's the best food on the Mall. Like the museums, though, it closes at 5:00.

Jaleo is fun. They serve Spanish tapas, small plates like appetizers that you can share. Figure two to three per adult. I can't remember how far it is from the Mall though. There is also a location in Crystal City.

In NC- 2 hours west of Raleigh is Old Salem Museums & Gardens in Winston-Salem.

Salem was settled in 1766 by Moravian Settlers who fled from Germany to Pennsylvania to avoid religious persecution. Their records are amazingly detailed, so the the historic buildings have been restored to the exact specifications they were originally built to, and are staffed by costumed interpreters.

There are historic gardens to see, along with the Historic town, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts houses objects dating from the 1600's through the mid-1800's that were made in the Southern regions.

I desperately need restaurant recommendations, as I would prefer to avoid chain restaurants as much as possible. We would like to have one splurge meal, and the remainder under $20 per person. Breakfast is included with our hotel.

Abbey Road in Virginia Beach (if you're doing a stop there btw). Quirky place with good food.

I desperately need restaurant recommendations, as I would prefer to avoid chain restaurants as much as possible. We would like to have one splurge meal, and the remainder under $20 per person. Breakfast is included with our hotel.

Thank you to all the posters!

If you want good restaurant recommendations, go to chowhound.com and get onto the Washington DC &Baltmore boards. Lots of good stuff there. I live close by, in Laurel, but I rarely go into DC nowadays, except for some festivals and Eastern Market. I agree with the metro recommendations, though. DC metro is really good and will get you there. WMATA.com will give you maps and show you all the places you can get from the metro. Just off the Green/Yellow lines, the U Street station, there are several really tasty Ethopian restaurants around there.

I've also had good luck with the trip advisor forums - you migh have to dig a little deeper as they cover everything, not just food, but my mom lives in a touristy area, and the recommendations I've seen there have been pretty good; also which ones to avoid!

In Virginia - Our favorite things so far have been Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg (which is very touristy BUT the church and attached cemetery are incredible!) and historic Jamestown (as in the archaeological site) is really neat (I didn't care for the larger tourist site, it's a lot like Williamsburg). I recommend a guided tour so you get a lot more info than what you can read on the markers. The plantations between Richmond and Williamsburg are wonderful, as is Monticello. It's surreal to stand in the homes of famous former presidents!

In DC -Our favorite museum is the Air and Space museum's Udvar-Hazy center at Dulles airport. They've got about every type of aircraft you could hope to see including a space shuttle! We've also been through the Natural History museum 2 or 3 times. DC from sunset on is beautiful, everything is lit up.

I'm not sure when you'll be in town, but I do full moon photowalks on the Mall. If you are spending most of your days in DC, I would highly recommend eating along the Metro center corridor. There are probably 30 restaurants around the confluence of E/Fst and 12/13th st. Also 7th street has a ton of restaurants, they are a little more touristy though. Chinatown is right there and my absolute favorite place to eat is Eat First on 6th and H. Matchbox, which is a pizza place is on the same side as Eat First.

If you'll be in Alexandria, there are some nice places to eat down by the waterfront and also over in the Del Ray section of the city. If you have time to go to Luray, make sure to stop at Thornton River Grill in downtown Sperryville which is the intersection of 211 and 522. They do close between 2pm and 5 I believe.